The all-time NBA 'Dream Team'

The NBA has been around for nearly 70 years and there have been amazing players every step of the way. The early days of the game had players like George Mikan, Bob Cousy, Ed Macauley, Dolph Schayes and Bob Pettit. They were followed by the legendary exploits of Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor and John Havlicek. Since then, countless great players that have put on a NBA uniform, including stars of today like Tim Duncan, LeBron James and Kevin Durant.

With so many wonderful and game changing players through the course of league history there were plenty of options for the all-time team. There were no-brainers when it came to building this team, while other selections were much more difficult.

The center position was the most taxing of the bunch on which to decide. While players like Shaquille O'Neal, David Robinson and Hakeem Olajuwon are considered top 25 players in league history, there was no room for them on this team because of how deep that position is. There were also some pretty impressive forwards with legendary careers who didn't make the cut. The four that had serious consideration who just missed out were Karl Malone, Charles Barkley, Elgin Baylor and Julius Erving. The guards that are on outside, looking in are Cousy, Havlicek and Isiah Thomas.

Although doing a team like this is all about personal preference and it is very challenging to compare players from different eras, there is nothing that gets sports fans going more than trying to decide who they would want on their all-time team.

Here is a look at the all-time NBA "Dream Team" if it could be built today.

Jay Yeomans is a courier by day and a freelance writer by night. He is the creator and lead writer of the website jmoneysports.com. Contact him at jmoney34@hotmail.com. Twitter: @jmoneysports

Karl Malone is a better player than Tim Duncan. Stats aren't even close
really. Duncan played in a better organization that better supporting pieces
overall and a much better coach, and I'm even a fan of Jerry Sloan
generally. He also didn't have to play against Michael Jordan in his prime
or Magic Johnson/Larry Bird in their primes or up against the Detroit Pistons, a
well put together team much like the Spurs with a superior coach.

For those who are annoyed at having their favorite player not starting or left
off entirely have to look at things in perspective. There are only so many
slots on any team and when you're looking at the greatest of all time it
ultimately boils down to matter of opinion. How do you decide who is the best
between Dr. J, LeBron and Bryant? Your opinion is likely dependent on who you
grew up watching. There are some choices where it's obvious people really
didn't watch the particular player play. For example, Magic really was
that great. When he was on the floor it was exciting to watch him play. Is
that a diss against those that you think should have been named in front of him?
No. It just means that out of all the great players who have played in the
NBA, someone has to start and someone has to come off the bench. That's
just the way it is.

Every serious fan may have a different all-star team depending upon era, style
of play--team player vs. individual star, etc. I can almost agree with this
starting line-up except for Tim Duncan. Duncan over Bill Russell? I don't
think so. And Stockton would be my point guard on just about any NBA all-star
team. Teams of the past had a much different style of play. Passing and defense
and shooting were prized skills. Today, dunking and trash-talking seem to
excite the fans more. After all the opinions, though, the reserves in this
line-up could probably beat the starters half the time!

Tell you what I'll go ahead and take Hakeem in the Post, Karl at the Power
Spot, Julius wherever he wants to be, Walt or Isaiah on the point and maybe
Reggie or Earl on the Shooting Guard spot.

Yeah you got first pick
and Wilt was strong but Hakeem had moves beyond compare. Karl is just so strong
and Julius creative beyond measure.

Walt or Isaiah have such crazy
skills (Walt plays defense like nobody else and Isaiah was a competitor (and
John was not available) you get Mike but one just has to look back to see how
Reggie often outscored his opponents in the shooting spot - don't believe
me - call any Knicks fans and see if they still nightmares of Reggie when the
Garden is dark and spooky - it sure ain't Mike.

In any case its
fun to think about - oh and off my bench is Charles, and Gary, and Clyde and
Shaq (hardworking Shaq) and the healthy Bill - That one year in Portland when he
was so good it was scary. Try driving the lane on a line of Shaq, Chuck and
Karl - it's like trying to sneak through a trailer park a night stealing
BBQ's - not gonna happen.

and Abraham, Martin and John....
(It's from a song if you're too young to get the reference)

Lebron James? Really? The Spurs showed he is one sided offensively and when
you look to shoot as much as he does of course he is going to put up points.
But when you understand he either drives left or stops to take a jump shot, he
really is an above average player. But not the best of the best. Any of the
defensive specialists of the 80's would have shut him down.

Some really weird opinions here, but opinions are opinion and everyone has one,
I have watched and played along time, my boys played in college, so I have
watched the game pretty close. Back in the 60's there weren't very
many good big men and the compitition was weak. I was a big fan of Wilt but I
wouldn't have him as my center, I wouldn't have Russell either ,
despite his 11 titles, watching the videos reminded me of how great Bird was and
I couldn't leave him off my starter list. Duncan is a great player but way
over rated, championships aren't an indication of how great the individual
player is, it has to do more with how good his team is. My 5 would be Magic at
point, Jordon at 2, Bird at 3, Malone at 4, Kareem at 5, my reserves would be:
Hakeem at 5, Barkley at 4, LeBron at 3, Robertson at 2, Stockton at 1. Duncan
has 5 titles and his nickname of mr fundamental which is accurate but he played
more as a 5 than a 4 and individually he's not up there with those
I've listed and several others.

Many fans these days refer to basketball-reference.com for data, and for the
most part, their data is spot on. However, when it comes to the proverbial
"win shares" even that great website fails to calculate one stat when it
comes to the Big Dipper: Blocked shots!The NBA didn't count blocked
shots until after Wilt had retired. I have been blessed with relative good
health, and thereby have been fortunate enough to see every player mentioned -
both in the article and in the comments - in their primes.That said, if
all the greats were 27 years of age at the same time, with access to the same
dietary and medical advances we have today, this debate would be far different.
Pete Maravich would light Michael Jordan up, period!Jordan was in Chicago
for five years before the Bulls did anything, and that was ONLY after they
acquired Cartwright. To leave Nate Archibald out of this debate reflects
the youth of the writer; and Elvin Hayes would tear Duncan apart.As for
the Celtic anti-Wilt perception, consider: Chamberlain’s team losses to
Celtic teams were an aggregate of less than 25 points, including a last second
miracle shot by Sam Jones in 1962 to beat the Sixers by one point.Forty
years after he retired at the age of 37, Chamberlain’s name appears in the
NBA’s record book 97 times; when he retired following the 1972-73 season,
it was 128 times. Wilt and Bill Russell played against each other 142 times
throughout their careers. In those head-to-head match-ups, Wilt averaged 28.7
points and 28.7 rebounds while Russell posted averages of 14.5 and 23.7. Russell
was distraught in the game when Wilt grabbed 55 - FIFTY-Five - rebounds against
him; Wilt dominated the paint, taking everything in sight. That 55 rebound
record still stands today and no one will come near it.Wilt scored 135
points in a 24 hour span - 73 against the Bulls and 62 points against the
Celtics. It took 22 years for someone to score 50 or more points on consecutive
nights. Bernard King did it - back to back 50’s - versus San Antonio and
Dallas in 1984.Wilt scored 50 or more points 118 times in his career;
Michael Jordan is second with 31. Twenty different players have scored 60 or
more points in an NBA game. Only four players have scored 60 points on more than
one occasion: Wilt 32 times, Jordan five times, Kobe five times, and Elgin
Baylor four times. Everyone makes a big fuss out of a triple double. How
about a triple double-double, which Wilt did against the Pistons in 1968!
Wilt’s line from that game – 22 points, 25 rebounds and 21
assists.Never fouled out of a game; high school, college, professional!My starting five – if they’re all 27 years of age – would
crush this youngster’s line-up:Guards:MaravichAndrew
ToneyForwards:Rick BarryElvin HayesCenter:Wilt

You must be too young to have seen Bill Russell play! Just compare his world
championships to Wilt. I grew up in Boston during the Celtic golden years &
Russell was amazing. Also, no one hustled like Bird every minute he was on the
court!!! What you need to do is pick an all time Celtic team